GERVONTA ‘Tank’ Davis has just taken himself out of the list of Manny Pacquiao’s next possible opponent.
The undefeated lightweight champion instead is set to face influencer and pro boxer Jake Paul on Nov. 14 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta in an exhibition showdown.
The formal announcement meant the 30-year-old Davis, the reigning World Boxing Association title holder at 135lbs, will no longer be under consideration for Pacquiao’s return to the ring sometime in December.
READ Gervonta Davis, Rolly Romero eyed for next Pacquiao fight
That leaves reigning WBA welterweight champion Rolly Romero as the likely target of the Pacquiao camp to face the legendary Filipino fighter next.
“That is correct. Rolly Romero is now the frontrunner,” said MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons.
Shortly after a majority draw against World Boxing Council welterweight champion Mario Barrios last month in his first fight out of retirement, the 46-year-old Pacquiao hinted about possibly fighting one more time before the year ends.
Gibbons later mentioned Davis and Romero among the opponents in their radar.
Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs) was coming off a majority draw against WBA super-featherweight champion Lamont Roach Jr. and a rematch supposedly to take place last Aug. 16 failed to push through.
Romero (17-2, 13 KOs) is fresh from a huge unanimous decision against Ryan Garcia to win the WBA 147lbs crown in a fight at the Times Square in New York in which he knocked Garcia down in the second round.
There were also ongoing talks of a rematch with Garcia possibly by December, but should negotiations fall apart – especially with Garcia undergoing hand surgery last May – Romero could might be looking for a date with the Pacman by the end of the year.
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